Discover the untouched nature of the Chodsko borderlands (by bike, too). In Český les you will feel as if you were in paradise

Resort Český les opened its doors to visitors in Železná u Smolova last spring. To the exceptional countryside of the Chodsko borderlands, still undiscovered by tourists, it brings a modern take on local gastronomy, a champagne bar under the aegis of maison de Venoge, a wellness area and, of course, comfortable hotel facilities. 

Luxury, out in nature too 

Resort Český les, in the heart of the Český les Protected Landscape Area, was created by the radical reconstruction of two long-unused buildings – a former First Republic school and the original military barracks – which became Boutique Apartments Železná and Aparthotel Železná. On the grounds, surrounded by pristine forests on the Czech-German border, those of you who like to seek out unspoilt places now have a total of 51 spacious boutique studios and rooms, a modern restaurant, a champagne bar, conference facilities and a wellness area with sauna, steam room, infrared sauna and massage therapies. 

The design of the resort was in the hands of Barbora Mluvková's Konceptual studio. The airy rooms in Aparthotel Železná draw inspiration from the character of the breathtaking forests below Čerchov and from the idea of creating an ideal setting for completely undisturbed relaxation. They are defined above all by a combination of wood, metal and glass, minimalist lines and a neutral colour palette. 

Boutique Apartments Železná consists of just eight generously proportioned rooms with a rustic-elegant interior inspired by the muted earthy tones of the surrounding countryside. This time the architects also worked elements of the Chodsko landscape and motifs from Jirásek's poems into the hotel design, and the individual apartments are named after them – V mechu (In the Moss), V kapradí (In the Ferns), Na křídlech (On the Wings), U potoka (By the Brook), Na stromě (In the Tree), Na jezeře (On the Lake), Na vrcholcích (On the Peaks) and V oblacích (In the Clouds). The last of these suites occupies the entire attic of the former First Republic village school and offers, among other things, a free-standing bathtub beneath the exposed original beams. 

Forest to table 

The gastronomic heart of Resort Český les is the stylish restaurant Hvozd. The menu draws on the bounty of the Chodsko forests, its own herb garden and the Železný pond, as well as on the honest produce of regional farmers. The designer interior, with details featuring the fauna of Český les crafted by local artisans, flows seamlessly onto an outdoor terrace with views over endless meadows, where guests can enjoy specialities from the OFYR grill beneath a spreading chestnut tree. 

A champagne bar and a beer of its own 

The culinary portfolio of Hvozd is rounded off by the Kotelna bar, focused on whisky and champagne. The complete maison de Venoge range is enriched by a selection of Czech and French wines and craft ciders from the nearby Kolowrat orchards. The resort also has its own wheat beer, Nikl, from the experimental Plzeň microbrewery Proud. Created exclusively for the hotel, the special is named after the mythical good spirit of Český les who, according to local legend, protects glassmakers and woodsmen. An outdoor de Venoge champagne lounge is planned for the end of summer, with an open-air cinema to follow in the near future. 

A break from the everyday in a land of stories 

Countless cross-country skiing and hiking trails surround Resort Český les, and 30 kilometres from the hotel the townscape of Domažlice awaits. The owners of the resort also plan to use the meditative calm of the surrounding forests as a setting for yoga weekends. This region, laced with centuries-old pilgrim paths and ancient trade routes, has an exceptionally rich history full of stories about glassmakers, border defenders and vanished villages – the largest of them is Pleš, where 800 people still lived at the beginning of the 20th century. From Resort Český les you can reach it on a pleasant walk along a forest path in about an hour. 

The Chodsko borderlands, little known to tourists, also offer lovers of active relaxation hundreds of kilometres of varied and excellently marked cycle trails. The wooded terrain of the Český les Protected Landscape Area cuts through a mosaic of pastures, meadows and peat bogs, an invitation to peaceful rides in the middle of untouched nature. 

Tips for cycling trips around Resort Český les 

The pan-European Prague – Paris cycle route 

This pan-European cycle route, whose predecessor was the medieval trade route Zlatá cesta (the Golden Road), connects Czechia with Germany and France and measures 1,570 km along its full length. The Czech section leads from Prague via Plzeň to the Železná – Eslarn border crossing, which lies just a few minutes from Resort Český les. Guests thus have any number of routes within easy reach; among the most popular is the Železná – Bělá nad Radbuzou stretch, a comfortable 18 km long. 

The Iron Curtain Trail 

This 10,400 km cycle trail, linking the Barents Sea with the Black Sea, symbolises European history, natural beauty and cultural wealth. The route passes through the village of Železná, so guests can choose the length and direction of their outing themselves. 

The Bavarian-Czech Friendship Trail 

This 90 km long trail connects Nabburg in the Upper Palatinate Forest with Horšovský Týn. Half of the route follows a former railway line, and cyclists can admire the beauty of unspoilt river valleys and glimpse the local history of glassmaking and blacksmithing. The path climbs to the border near Schwarzach, where it crosses into the Czech Republic, and from there wonderful views of the surrounding landscape open up as well. 

Bockl-Radweg 

Often described as the best cycle trail in the region, the Bockl – Radweg offers a route ideal for families with children. Running mostly away from busy roads along a former railway line once used to transport timber, its surface is half compacted gravel and half asphalt.